If you mean we're somewhat more welcoming to non-native born and/or raised English-qualified players then you do have a point with cricket

And as a result we benefit from the talent of those willing to commit themselves to the England cause... so we benefit where others snub.

Which, to me, looks like a good thing, even if Dmitri Mascarenhas still lists Aussie Rules as his sport, or Tony Greig, Allan Lamb, Robin Smith and Basil D'Oliveira would have played for South Africa had they been able to.

EDIT: no, I'm not accusing you of being an old-style Little Englander, please don't get shirty about that'un again

Mother Australia???? We prefer the term Oz.
What rugby or rugby league do is of little interest outside QLD/NSW. The rest of us follow Australian Rules football in the AFL or local leagues and as it isn't a game played outside Australia there is none of the angst of who can/can't be picked for a national team.

.... even if Dmitri Mascarenhas still lists Aussie Rules as his sport..

I'd never heard of him but Cricinfo put me right. Plays with Hampshire, isn't that Warney's team? He's a passionate Aussie Rules follower too, played U19s for St Kilda and if he'd made the senior team would never have gone on with cricket.

He played for Hants long before Warne did, debuted as a 18-year-old or something crazy like that.

Not that crazy tbh. I have played against a 14 year old when I was playing for Yorkshire u-14 against Glamorgan youth, and he was playing for Glamorgan 2nd XI.

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

1) Had double pneumonia as a kid, as did my twin sis. Doctors told my parents to pray that we lived through the night. Dad said **** off, I'm an atheist, you ****s better save my kids, etc. Then prayed anyway.

Master Northeast has been on the radar for a little while now... even has a CricInfo profile, which is more than can be said for many bit-part Test players... and at the time of this post I'd still have to refuse to serve him alcohol if he came in my shop...

I'd never heard of him but Cricinfo put me right. Plays with Hampshire, isn't that Warney's team? He's a passionate Aussie Rules follower too, played U19s for St Kilda and if he'd made the senior team would never have gone on with cricket.

Is a gun in International Cricket Captain.

"I am very happy and it will allow me to have lot more rice."

Eoin Morgan on being given a rice cooker for being Man of the Match in a Dhaka Premier Division game.

Mother Australia???? We prefer the term Oz.
What rugby or rugby league do is of little interest outside QLD/NSW. The rest of us follow Australian Rules football in the AFL or local leagues and as it isn't a game played outside Australia there is none of the angst of who can/can't be picked for a national team.

So are you the scarecrow, the tinman, the cowardly lion or Dorothy?

&, TBF, the population of NSW & QLD is higher than the rest of Australia put together.

"The PFA does not represent players when they have broken the law and been convicted on non-football matters."- Gordon Taylor in 2009 following Marlon King's release after a prison sentence for sexual assault & ABH